Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1887-06-29
Mud Lake Railroad.

TO this city, runs on the main track OF
the d., B. C. & A. r. r. from this
city to Mud Lake junction. 1t then
travels along the Mud Lake branch
TO within about one mile of the end
The distance from this city is % miles
and one trip per day is made. The
train consist of engine No. 16, from
twenty to twenty-five fiat cars and a
caboose. Malcolm Morrison is the
efficient conductor, being assisted by
three breakmen. The caboose is q
sort Of passenger car. Part of it is
supplied with cushioned seats, set
lengthways, like street car. The
center is raised and has revolving
arm chair for the conductor, and two
small seats. Through the upper will
dows the conductor has an unobstruct-
ed view of his train, as they are above
the top of an ordinary box car. The
caboose is not as easy riding as a
Wagner palace car. 1t has sort OF
rock me to sleep, mother, motion, not
experienced on passenger coaches.
The caboose is bad thing to travel
in for man who has two kinds of liq-
uors in his stomach. They get well
mixed. Sometimes the caboose has
the fever and ague, and at such times
the passengers are afflicted with the
shakes.
From Mud Lake Junction the route
is through green woods, then desc
late treeless wilderness, over hills and
through valleys. Sometimes you are
going like a toboggan, and going in
hurry too. That is when the train is
rushing down a steep grade. Next
comes a heavy up grade and the mo-
ton of the train gets slower and slow
er until person could walk as fast.
Once in while the train gets stuck
near the brow of hill. At such
times the conductor and breakmen are
allowed 10 swear, and no marks plac-
ed against them.
Every few minutes the train passed
a skidway Of logs. Occasionally a
lumberman's shanty comes to view,
and the tourist can also see the teams
hauling logs, the men cutting timber,
and now and then a long timber train
is seen at siding. There is a good
opportunity to see how numbering is
done. Ahead Of the shanty boys is
the green and beautiful forest with its
lofty pines majestically rearing their
tops far above the earth. Behind
them is q desolate trecless region, with
a few gaunt blackened stubs making
dreary and disperiting scene that
fills the observer with gloom.
Mud Lake is distant but a few rods
frem the road, and looks very pretty.
In the center is a small island, some
what wooded, but, last winter, the
lumbermen visited it, and it no longer
glories in group of lofty pines.
After passing Mud Lake there is a
large tract Of fine hardwood land.
Then comes several miles of pine land
interspersed with hemlock, hardwood,
and cedar. In some places there is
nothing but pine trees, and the ground
thickly studded with them. Near the
branch leading to Lindsay's camp,
where some 100000 feet of logs
were numbered the past winter for
the Messrs. Comstocks and Messrs.
Churchills, there is a fine tract of white
pine trees-a good deal of which is
owned by the Messrs. Churchills. The
Comstock Brothers also own large
tract of pine land in this region.
The soil is Of a sandy nature, slight.
ly mixed with gravel, and a great
part of it will, before many years pass,
be converted into good farms. New
er failing springs are reported numer-
Gus, and these form the commence
ment of the west branch of Hubbard
Lake, which lake is distant about
eight miles.
Near Mud Lake is branch of the
road called LIQUIDS branch, running
towards the Sable river.
Immense quantities of logs are
hauled daily over the road. Some
come to this city, but the greater part
go to Black River and Au Sable.
The whole region, from Alpena to
the end of the Mud Lake branch, is
nearly all wilderness, and there are
but few settlers living on the lands
adjacent to the road. In the years
to come the route will blossom with
farms, houses, barns, orchards, and
waving fields of grain and grass.
If you should state your belief re-
garding the value Of the said lands
for farming purposes to man who
has worked many years in the camps,
he will be apt to look at you some-
what pittyingly and may wonder
when you went luny. His estimate
of the value of pine land is based up
on the number of pine trees on it big
enough to be cut into logs. When
the trees are cut down, the land has
lost all of its value to him, and the
sandy soil is considered of no value.
not even worth cursing. His opinion
is that man would starve upon such
land, if he tried to farm it. Such
may be the case with what are called